I'm new to the forum and currently reside in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I will have a 6 week vacay in Sept/Oct and am considering purchasing a boat to head south and explore the caribbean. I am a novice sailor and am looking to spend less than $30k (less the better). My main concerns are:

-safety (of course)
-ease of handling as I'll be by myself on parts of the trip
-draft as its very shallow in the TCI's

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. I'm assuming I'll have to pick the boat up in S. Fl and sail it to the TCI's initially (probably to the Bahamas and then south.